$10m for digital schools admin system

HenryBG said :

Is this a re-run of the promise of a “laptop for every high school student”?
It is now necessary for students in high school to have a computer AND internet access, but not all families can afford that privilege. This is also extending to primary school as we have witnessed, with Google Docs now the new method of getting groups to put together projects whilst away from school, not to mention Reading Eggs, Khan Academy and other programs causing domestic unrest with only one PC to share among three kids at home. With the initial cost of purchasing the equipment and the ongoing cost of annual subscriptions for Microsoft Office, internet security and the internet service itself, going to school has become quite expensive. Actually, if your home internet costs around $80/month and the software about $200/year, it is almost as expensive to go to school as it is to own and ride a registered motorcycle or small car.
But now the education system wants all parents to embrace this digital technology. Instead of getting a note from school, parents will now need to check their email or log in to an app to see if there are any special events coming up or permission notes to be signed. What if they don’t jump onto the net every day? What if they don’t use a phone that can handle apps? [Yes, I know people who are like this, with only basic phones and wireless internet that gets turned on once in a blue moon].
How about the government fix up our pathetic internet services first [NBN…any day now] before committing any money to using it!

This way the school can track who is paying attention to their kids.
What if someone doesn’t agree to using Google docs or is that an alternative so they don’t fail antitrust.

Is this a re-run of the promise of a “laptop for every high school student”?
It is now necessary for students in high school to have a computer AND internet access, but not all families can afford that privilege. This is also extending to primary school as we have witnessed, with Google Docs now the new method of getting groups to put together projects whilst away from school, not to mention Reading Eggs, Khan Academy and other programs causing domestic unrest with only one PC to share among three kids at home. With the initial cost of purchasing the equipment and the ongoing cost of annual subscriptions for Microsoft Office, internet security and the internet service itself, going to school has become quite expensive. Actually, if your home internet costs around $80/month and the software about $200/year, it is almost as expensive to go to school as it is to own and ride a registered motorcycle or small car.
But now the education system wants all parents to embrace this digital technology. Instead of getting a note from school, parents will now need to check their email or log in to an app to see if there are any special events coming up or permission notes to be signed. What if they don’t jump onto the net every day? What if they don’t use a phone that can handle apps? [Yes, I know people who are like this, with only basic phones and wireless internet that gets turned on once in a blue moon].
How about the government fix up our pathetic internet services first [NBN…any day now] before committing any money to using it!

Most places just buy these off the shelf

“An enhanced online enrolment experience; student wellbeing etc….”
Who writes this guff?
$10 million is a lot of money to spend on something that is already successful so is this really necessary?